Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
This is a great time to be a sports bettor. As sports betting becomes legal in more and more locations, the various sportsbooks are all vying for your business.
Targeting daily odds boosts bets can be one of the best ways to take advantage.
Four days a week, I’ll be highlighting some of the best odds boosts and where you can find them.
Today’s odds boost piece is centered around the NBA. There are five games starting at 4 p.m. ET or later, and there are odds boosts available for three of those contests. We’ll also take a look at a boost for UFC Fight Night, which gets underway at 6 p.m. ET Saturday.
If you’re looking for more value, make sure to subscribe for our platinum Fade the Noise Bets packages for the NFL, NBA, MLB, and whatever other sports you’re interested in betting on.
Let’s dive in.
NBA Odds Boost
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic (6:30 p.m. ET)
Boosted bet: 76ers to win and Joel Embiid to score at least 30 points — +325 on BetMGM
I absolutely love this combo bet at +325. The 76ers are only slight favorites vs. the Magic, and they will have to play this game without Ben Simmons. While sounds like a negative on the surface, the 76ers have actually been significantly better with Simmons off the court this season.
Less Simmons will almost certainly mean more Embiid. He’s posted a usage rate of 38.1% in six games without Simmons this season, resulting in an average of 34.3 points per 36 minutes.
If the 76ers can win today, odds are pretty good it will come on the back of a big game from Embiid.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Washington Wizards (8 p.m. ET)
Boosted bet: Zion Williamson to record a double-double — +350 on DraftKings (was +250)
The Pelicans are fighting for their playoff lives in Orlando. They’ve gone just 1-3 over their first four games in the bubble, so their chances of finishing with one of the top nine spots in the Western Conference are extremely thin at this point. If they lose Friday vs. the Wizards, they become pretty much none.
With that in mind, expect the Pelicans to loosen the reins on Williamson a bit. He’s been limited to start the seeding games, but he has started to play a few more minutes recently. He could exceed 25 minutes in this contest, which should give him a chance at a double-double against the Wizards. Washington ranks 29th in defensive efficiency and 30th in team rebound rate this season, which is an awesome combination.
Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics (9 p.m. ET)
Boosted bet: Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam both over 19.5 points — +300 on FanDuel (was +253)
The Raptors have been one of the most impressive teams in Orlando during the restart, posting a perfect 3-0 record. They’re taking on the Celtics Friday in what should be an entertaining matchup.
These two teams have played three previous times this season, and those games have been decided by an average of just two points. That said, Siakam was only in the lineup for one of those contests. The Raptors ultimately lost that game, but he went off for 33 points. Lowry also chipped in 29 points in that matchup, so it’s certainly possible that both can hit the over on 19.5 points here.
Indiana Pacers vs. Los Angeles Lakers (6 p.m. ET Saturday)
Dallas Mavericks vs. Milwaukee Bucks (8:30 p.m. ET Saturday)
Boosted bet: LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo to each record at least one dunk — +100 on FoxBet (was -250)
This bet seems like it should be an easy winner. The only way these guys don’t record at least one dunk is if they don’t play. That’s certainly possible — both of their teams have locked up the top spot in their respective conferences — but your bet should be refunded if that's the case.
There is a small limit on this wager, but who doesn’t like free money?
UFC Fight Night Odds Boost
Boosted bet: Derrick Lewis to win by KO/TKO — -120 on PointsBet (was -150)
Lewis enters his match vs. Aleksei Oleinik as a pretty significant favorite. He’s currently listed as -200 to earn the win, and if that happens, odds are it will come via the knockout. Lewis has recorded 23 wins in the UFC, and 18 of those have been by KO/TKO. With that in mind, -120 seems like a pretty good deal at PointsBet.
